ROSS County have started life in the SPL well, but Neil Lennon insists Celtic's big-match experience can put the top-flight rookies in their place.

The Hoops returned to Glasgow yesterday after their trip across the Atlantic to face Real Madrid in Philadelphia.

But it was straight back to domestic thoughts for the Hoops boss as he looks forward to a trip to Dingwall for the champs’ first-ever league clash with the Staggies.

The Parkhead men also travel to the Highlands the following weekend to face Terry Butcher’s Inverness Caley Thistle and their manager admits it’s a crucial period for his side.

Lennon revealed he has been impressed by the Staggies’ decent start to the season with Derek Adams’ side having had goalless draws with both Motherwell and Aberdeen.

The Celtic boss also knows he and his team can ill-afford to take anything for granted against County after the Highlanders dished out a painful and crushing 2-0 defeat to the Hoops at Hampden in the 2010 Scottish Cup semi-final when he was caretaker manager.

In fact, Lennon insists that County will treat this match as if it were a cup final.

He said: “We have two huge weeks in the context of our season, starting with the Ross County game in Dingwall.

“They have managed to get two draws out of the first two games which is a decent start for them.

“I have no doubt they will be well-motivated and with the game live on TV it will be their first taste of the big stuff now they are in the SPL.

“I’m hoping we can maybe capitalise on the fact they are inexperienced but on the other hand I’m sure they will treat this like a cup final.”

Meanwhile, Lennon heaped praise on the Celtic supporters who packed into the Lincoln Financial Field to cheer on the team against Jose Mourinho’s men on Saturday in Philadelphia.

Despite going down 2-0 to the La Liga superstars the fans helped to create a carnival atmosphere inside the ground and city where a number of events and rallies had been organised.

The glamour game netted Celtic around £1million and Lennon revealed that it was important for the Hoops to try to fit in a fixture Stateside every season if possible – because of the sacrifices that their fans in America make to cheer them on.

Lennon said: “The support was amazing and the atmosphere was fantastic.

“There were 35,000 in the ground, which is remarkable really when you think what time of year it is and where we were.

“It was a great occasion and I thought our fans were magnificent.

“It’s always good to see them and it’s always good for them to see the team because we know the lengths they go to catch a game, whether it be live in Scotland when they have to get up at all hours in the morning or when they come to see us in a live game in America.

“I believe it’s important we try and get over here for one game a year, obviously depending on circumstances back home.”